675 research outputs found
Recent advance in high manufacturing readiness level and high temperature CMOS mixed-signal integrated circuits on silicon carbide
A high manufacturing readiness level silicon carbide (SiC) CMOS technology is presented. The unique process flow enables the monolithic integration of pMOS and nMOS transistors with passive circuit elements capable of operation at temperatures of 300 °C and beyond. Critical to this functionality is the behaviour of the gate dielectric and data for high temperature capacitance–voltage measurements are reported for SiO2/4H-SiC (n and p type) MOS structures. In addition, a summary of the long term reliability for a range of structures including contact chains to both n-type and p-type SiC, as well as simple logic circuits is presented, showing function after 2000 h at 300 °C. Circuit data is also presented for the performance of digital logic devices, a 4 to 1 analogue multiplexer and a configurable timer operating over a wide temperature range. A high temperature micro-oven system has been utilised to enable the high temperature testing and stressing of units assembled in ceramic dual in line packages, including a high temperature small form-factor SiC based bridge leg power module prototype, operated for over 1000 h at 300 °C. The data presented show that SiC CMOS is a key enabling technology in high temperature integrated circuit design. In particular it provides the ability to realise sensor interface circuits capable of operating above 300 °C, accommodate shifts in key parameters enabling deployment in applications including automotive, aerospace and deep well drilling
Quantum state-dependent diffusion and multiplicative noise: a microscopic approach
The state-dependent diffusion, which concerns the Brownian motion of a
particle in inhomogeneous media has been described phenomenologically in a
number of ways. Based on a system-reservoir nonlinear coupling model we present
a microscopic approach to quantum state-dependent diffusion and multiplicative
noise in terms of a quantum Markovian Langevin description and an associated
Fokker-Planck equation in position space in the overdamped limit. We examine
the thermodynamic consistency and explore the possibility of observing a
quantum current, a generic quantum effect, as a consequence of this
state-dependent diffusion similar to one proposed by B\"{u}ttiker [Z. Phys. B
{\bf 68}, 161 (1987)] in a classical context several years ago.Comment: To be published in Journal of Statistical Physics 28 pages, 3 figure
A Symmetry-induced Model of Elliptical Galaxy Patterns
S\'ersic (1968) generalized the de Vaucouleurs law which follows the
projected (observed) one dimensional radial profile of elliptical galaxies
closely and Dehnen (1993) proposed an analytical formula of the 3-dimensional
light distributions whose projected line profile resembles the de Vaucouleurs
law. This paper is involved to recover the Dehnen model and generalize the
model to account for galaxy elliptical shapes by means of curvilinear
coordinate systems and employing a symmetry principle. The symmetry principle
maps an orthogonal coordinate system to a light distribution pattern. The
coordinate system for elliptical galaxy patterns turns out to be the one which
is formed by the complex-plane reciprocal transformation . The resulting
spatial (3-dimensional) light distribution is spherically symmetric and has
infinite gradient at its centre, which is called spherical-nucleus solution and
is used to model galaxy central area. We can make changes of the coordinate
system by cutting out some column areas of its definition domain, the areas
containing the galaxy centre. The resulting spatial (3-dimensional) light
distributions are axisymmetric or triaxial and have zero gradient at the
centre, which are called elliptical-shape solutions and are used to model
global elliptical patterns. The two types of logarithmic light distributions
are added together to model full elliptical galaxy patterns. The model is a
generalization of the Dehnen model. One of the elliptical-shape solutions
permits realistic numerical calculation and is fitted to all R-band elliptical
images from the Frei {\it et al.}(1996)'s galaxy sample. The fitting is
satisfactory. This suggests that elliptical galaxy patterns can be represented
in terms of a few basic parameters.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure
Physics Opportunities with the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab
This white paper summarizes the scientific opportunities for utilization of
the upgraded 12 GeV Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and
associated experimental equipment at Jefferson Lab. It is based on the 52
proposals recommended for approval by the Jefferson Lab Program Advisory
Committee.The upgraded facility will enable a new experimental program with
substantial discovery potential to address important topics in nuclear,
hadronic, and electroweak physics.Comment: 64 page
Atomic X-ray Spectroscopy of Accreting Black Holes
Current astrophysical research suggests that the most persistently luminous
objects in the Universe are powered by the flow of matter through accretion
disks onto black holes. Accretion disk systems are observed to emit copious
radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, each energy band providing
access to rather distinct regimes of physical conditions and geometric scale.
X-ray emission probes the innermost regions of the accretion disk, where
relativistic effects prevail. While this has been known for decades, it also
has been acknowledged that inferring physical conditions in the relativistic
regime from the behavior of the X-ray continuum is problematic and not
satisfactorily constraining. With the discovery in the 1990s of iron X-ray
lines bearing signatures of relativistic distortion came the hope that such
emission would more firmly constrain models of disk accretion near black holes,
as well as provide observational criteria by which to test general relativity
in the strong field limit. Here we provide an introduction to this phenomenon.
While the presentation is intended to be primarily tutorial in nature, we aim
also to acquaint the reader with trends in current research. To achieve these
ends, we present the basic applications of general relativity that pertain to
X-ray spectroscopic observations of black hole accretion disk systems, focusing
on the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions to the Einstein field equations. To
this we add treatments of the fundamental concepts associated with the
theoretical and modeling aspects of accretion disks, as well as relevant topics
from observational and theoretical X-ray spectroscopy.Comment: 63 pages, 21 figures, Einstein Centennial Review Article, Canadian
Journal of Physics, in pres
Probing exotic phenomena at the interface of nuclear and particle physics with the electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms: A unique window to hadronic and semi-leptonic CP violation
The current status of electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms which
involves the synergy between atomic experiments and three different theoretical
areas -- particle, nuclear and atomic is reviewed. Various models of particle
physics that predict CP violation, which is necessary for the existence of such
electric dipole moments, are presented. These include the standard model of
particle physics and various extensions of it. Effective hadron level combined
charge conjugation (C) and parity (P) symmetry violating interactions are
derived taking into consideration different ways in which a nucleon interacts
with other nucleons as well as with electrons. Nuclear structure calculations
of the CP-odd nuclear Schiff moment are discussed using the shell model and
other theoretical approaches. Results of the calculations of atomic electric
dipole moments due to the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moment with the
electrons and the P and time-reversal (T) symmetry violating
tensor-pseudotensor electron-nucleus are elucidated using different
relativistic many-body theories. The principles of the measurement of the
electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms are outlined. Upper limits for the
nuclear Schiff moment and tensor-pseudotensor coupling constant are obtained
combining the results of atomic experiments and relativistic many-body
theories. The coefficients for the different sources of CP violation have been
estimated at the elementary particle level for all the diamagnetic atoms of
current experimental interest and their implications for physics beyond the
standard model is discussed. Possible improvements of the current results of
the measurements as well as quantum chromodynamics, nuclear and atomic
calculations are suggested.Comment: 46 pages, 19 tables and 16 figures. A review article accepted for
EPJ
Proximity effect at superconducting Sn-Bi2Se3 interface
We have investigated the conductance spectra of Sn-Bi2Se3 interface junctions
down to 250 mK and in different magnetic fields. A number of conductance
anomalies were observed below the superconducting transition temperature of Sn,
including a small gap different from that of Sn, and a zero-bias conductance
peak growing up at lower temperatures. We discussed the possible origins of the
smaller gap and the zero-bias conductance peak. These phenomena support that a
proximity-effect-induced chiral superconducting phase is formed at the
interface between the superconducting Sn and the strong spin-orbit coupling
material Bi2Se3.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Centrality Dependence of the High p_T Charged Hadron Suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV
PHENIX has measured the centrality dependence of charged hadron p_T spectra
from central Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV. The truncated mean p_T
decreases with centrality for p_T > 2 GeV/c, indicating an apparent reduction
of the contribution from hard scattering to high p_T hadron production. For
central collisions the yield at high p_T is shown to be suppressed compared to
binary nucleon-nucleon collision scaling of p+p data. This suppression is
monotonically increasing with centrality, but most of the change occurs below
30% centrality, i.e. for collisions with less than about 140 participating
nucleons. The observed p_T and centrality dependence is consistent with the
particle production predicted by models including hard scattering and
subsequent energy loss of the scattered partons in the dense matter created in
the collisions.Comment: 7 pages text, LaTeX, 6 figures, 2 tables, 307 authors, resubmitted to
Phys. Lett. B. Revised to address referee concerns. Plain text data tables
for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications
are publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm
Single Electrons from Heavy Flavor Decays in p+p Collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV
The invariant differential cross section for inclusive electron production in
p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment
at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over the transverse momentum range $0.4
<= p_T <= 5.0 GeV/c at midrapidity (eta <= 0.35). The contribution to the
inclusive electron spectrum from semileptonic decays of hadrons carrying heavy
flavor, i.e. charm quarks or, at high p_T, bottom quarks, is determined via
three independent methods. The resulting electron spectrum from heavy flavor
decays is compared to recent leading and next-to-leading order perturbative QCD
calculations. The total cross section of charm quark-antiquark pair production
is determined as sigma_(c c^bar) = 0.92 +/- 0.15 (stat.) +- 0.54 (sys.) mb.Comment: 329 authors, 6 pages text, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.
Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and
previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Nuclear Modification of Electron Spectra and Implications for Heavy Quark Energy Loss in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV
The PHENIX experiment has measured mid-rapidity transverse momentum spectra
(0.4 < p_T < 5.0 GeV/c) of electrons as a function of centrality in Au+Au
collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. Contributions from photon conversions and
from light hadron decays, mainly Dalitz decays of pi^0 and eta mesons, were
removed. The resulting non-photonic electron spectra are primarily due to the
semi-leptonic decays of hadrons carrying heavy quarks. Nuclear modification
factors were determined by comparison to non-photonic electrons in p+p
collisions. A significant suppression of electrons at high p_T is observed in
central Au+Au collisions, indicating substantial energy loss of heavy quarks.Comment: 330 authors, 6 pages text, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.
Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and
previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
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